Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Today's edition of Soapbox Spotlight is with author Darlene Jones. She has written a sci-fi series that is quickly gaining popularity with its second installment, Empowered, about which she's here to talk to us today.

Awesome author photo! So why don't you tell us a little about yourself, Darlene?

A long time ago, I lived in Mali. Every single day, I wished I
could wave a magic wand to relieve the heart wrenching poverty. My experiences
there led to the writing of EMBATTLED, which reflects my desire to wave that
wand and make the world a better place—if only wishes could come true.

Initially,
I intended to write “a” novel. The story and characters took over and the
ending demanded another. Empowered is that “other.” I've always believed we
can't be the only beings existing in the vastness of the universe; there must
be others “out there somewhere”, and I'd like to believe they're not all that
different from us. Those beliefs are reflected in my writing. My novels stay,
for the most part, within the realities of our world, but I've found that I
love the magic the sci-fi element of other beings could bring to a story.

Have you
developed a specific writing style?

Yes, and
over time I’ve discovered that I have to be aware of certain “mannerisms” in my
writing. Just as we have favorite expressions that we use over and over again
without realizing it when we speak, I do the same when I write. That’s why a
writing partner or a critiquing group are so important. They are there to point
those things out to you.

What is your greatest strength as a writer?

One word –
determination. You have to be determined
to get a book done then to get all the rewrites and edits done, and then to get
it published and do the marketing, which I often feel is more work and time
consuming than the writing.

I certainly agree with you on that! Have you ever
had writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?

Yes. When I just don’t know where to go with a
story, I leave it alone for a month or more. Then when I find myself thinking
about it and jotting down ideas (usually on yellow stickies) I go back to the
computer.

You sound like a fellow "pantser"! Tell us about
your latest work.

Empowered is
the second book in my series, but they can all be read as a stand-alone. In this
book, Jasmine is convinced that she is invincible and that she has a special
mission on Earth. Visions she experienced as a child told her so. They also
told her she would find a soulmate. Problem is, her supposed soulmate thinks
she’s a nut case. And those visions she believes in so strongly lead to danger
as well as love.

Does the writing get easier with each new book?

Definitely. You learn as you write. With my first book, I just wrote; with this one I used
an outline, and that made a world of difference in terms of the ease of telling
the story. Also, with practice you avoid errors and have a smoother draft the first
time around, and that equals fewer rewrites.

How did you
come up with the title?

That was
tough. Trying to capture the essence of your story in just a few words is so
hard. The heroine in the first book is named Em and as she recurs throughout
the series, I chose to use “Em” for the title – hence Embattled and Empowered.

How did you develop your plot and characters?

I start with
basic ideas – I actually play around with those ideas in my head for a long
time (trying to combat insomnia – it doesn’t work – just keeps me wider awake).
Then, as I write, more ideas pop into my head. I find the characters often take
over and take on personalities of their own. They really do become “real” as I
work with them.

I get that feeling about my characters, too. What do you look for in a cover?

Something
relatively simple, but that will still attract a reader’s attention. I want the
reader to see the cover and be curious about the story.

What do you love about independent publishing?

That I can
do it my way on my timeline!

What are
some of the best tools available today for writers, especially those just
starting out?

The
Internet. There is so much information out there and so many people willing to
help. It’s people like you who really are the backbone of the publishing
industry now. We couldn’t market without you and what good would our books be
hibernating in a file on our computers.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Welcome to another Wednesday edition of Soapbox Spotlight! Today, we're talking with Sarka Jonae-Miller. She began her career writing health and fitness articles and has published more than 4,000 articles on martial arts, nutrition, and healthy lifestyle. She's here today to discuss her debut novel, Between Boyfriends.

So Sarka, tell us a little about yourself.

I am a novelist and a health writer, mainly for websites. I
have over 4,000 articles published on topics such as fitness, sports, martial
arts, yoga, nutrition and natural health. I have also written about travel,
beauty, spirituality, education, home and lifestyle. My articles have appeared
on websites like LiveStrong.com and NaturalNews.com, as well as in the
"Post-Standard" newspaper, the Washington Home & Garden online
magazine, and "Modern Witch" magazine.

I am a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public
Communications at Syracuse University. After graduation, I worked as a personal
fitness trainer and massage therapist. I used some of my experiences as a
massage therapist to write Between Boyfriends.

Do you have to travel much concerning your books?

I am an avid traveler. I've been to Costa Rica, Canada,
England, Mexico, and Paradise Island. I have also been to France and Thailand,
and did research in both countries for novels I currently writing. I live in
San Diego with a menagerie, including two cats, two dogs and a horse.

Who is your favorite author and why?

As odd as it may sound for a chick lit writer to have a
favorite author who writes fantasy novels, that is indeed the case with me.
Terry Brooks, author of the Sword of Shannara series, is my favorite writer,
though I love Sophie Kinsella, Janet Evanovich, James Redfield and Laurel K.
Hamiliton, just to name a few other authors I adore. I read a lot and from
different genres, but when I was a teenager I stumbled upon Terry Brooks' books
and just fell in love. I read the original seven Sword of Shannara books back
to back. They sparked my imagination and rekindled my belief in magic.

What are some of your favorites?

My all-time favorite musician, dancer, performer and humanitarian
is Michael Jackson. I have been in love with him since I was 2 years old. I
dedicated Between Boyfriends to him. Michael was the sweetest, most
caring, gentle and hard working person that I have ever known, or should say
known of since I never met him personally. His message was to "Heal the World"
and in some small way I also hope to make the world a better place.

With that said, I also love chocolate soy ice cream, soy
mochas and about anything that is chocolate and vegan. My favorite color is pink.
My favorite flower is a pink rose, and my favorite movie is "The Wedding
Singer." Don't ask me why.

My son and I are big Michael Jackson fans too! Let's talk about rejection now. How do you deal with rejection letters?

I look to see if there is anything I can learn. I really
appreciate when agents or publishers write a personalized rejection letter,
even if it is short because they usually include some advice. I did a major
rewrite of Between Boyfriends after getting some awesome criticism
from an agent years ago. It made my book so much better.

Once I have learned all I can, I recycle the letter. I
imagine it being transformed into something more positive. Educational or no,
rejection letters still suck.

If your book became a movie, who do you see playing your
main character?

If she were just a little younger, I would want Bridget Regan
to play Jan. I went to high school with Bridget. I was one year ahead, but we
were part of the same swing dancing group. Bridget is an amazing actress. She
can do funny and cute. She can be tough and strong. She can be sad and
vulnerable. She can do everything that I would want an actress to do to play a
complicated character like Jan. I don't really have a second choice, but I
think it would be fun to find an unknown actress that no one associates with
any other role. Plus, I like the idea of helping an up-and-coming actress.

Are you reading any interesting books at the moment?

I am reading the student workbook from "A Course in
Miracles." I read a lot of personal development and spiritual books. I was
fortunate enough to meet Marianne Williamson at the San Francisco airport when
I was stopping over for the night on my way to Thailand. She gave me a ride
home. I had heard about her and the course before but never read the books. I
love the course. It really helps you see everything from a positive place. I
definitely still have a lot of work to do in that area.

Are there any new writers that have sparked your
interest and why?

I recently read Sleeping With Paris by Juliette
Sobanet and hope to read her new book Kissed in Paris soon.
Juliette is such a funny writer. One of the books I am writing now takes place
partly in Paris so I was really excited to read her book, which is mainly set
in Paris. I happened to "meet" her on Facebook soon after I read her
book and found out she was from Encinitas, CA, the city I grew up in. Just
after we "met" I found out she was moving from the East Coast back to
San Diego where I live now. I guess I just love little coincidences like that
so now not only am I excited to read more of her work, but I am really rooting
for her. It also helps that she speaks French, which I am learning, and she
likes Michael Jackson, too.

I also recently discovered Wendy Nelson Tokunaga, Nancy
Scrofano, Jennifer Coburn (who lives in San Diego too) and Brea Brown. I like
to read a mix of new Indie authors and new stuff published by established
authors. It's a lot of fun to discover authors before they make it big, or in
some cases before they become huge.

I think that's one of the best parts of being an indie author: you get to meet really great people in your same field and collaborate. Then, as you said, we tend to want everything wonderful for everyone in the indie author community. I love that.

What is your greatest strength as a writer?

The thing most writers complain about being the hardest for
them to write is dialogue. For me, dialogue is the easiest part. Sometimes when
reading other books, I find myself skimming the pages to get to the dialogue. I
like to talk a lot. Maybe that's why. I would say that being able to write
realistic and interesting dialogue is my greatest strength. Most people tell me
that they loved my characters' dialogue, including their internal dialogue. The
other thing I hear most is that I am really good with character development. No
one ever praises my deep metaphors, foreshadowing or poetic prose, and that is
because there are somethings that I am not good at writing and frankly do not
enjoy at all. Sometimes it is nice to read a book that is entertaining with a
few important lessons sprinkled throughout the story. I don't want to have to
work hard to understand the author's point. I would rather work hard on
improving myself once I get the message.

What inspires you to write and why?

Reading great books inspires me to write. Getting good
feedback also sends me straight to the keyboard. I respond very well to praise.
Some people are motivated by money or titles. I thrive on recognition.

I can certainly understand that! Can you tell us about your main character?

Jan is complicated. She is pretty, sweet, fun and loving,
yet this is not what most people see. Jan is very insecure. She buys all these
beautiful clothes ,but is too afraid of the attention to wear them and instead
dresses in basic safe clothes. She can be really rude to her friends because
she feels like it gives her power and protects her from being hurt. But she is
completely different with men. She desperately wants a man to love her and
feels like the only way to keep a guy is to be accommodating and practically
perfect. If she meets his every need, then he won't leave her, she thinks. She
gives her love and kindness to the wrong people and treats the people who care
about her poorly. Between Boyfriends is about her realizing some of
these truths about herself and how she behaves, how she treats others and how
she treats herself. Jan may be rude sometimes, but she wants to change. Some
people just don't know how to be vulnerable or discerning about who they let
into their life. The book is about her waking up.

Monday, May 21, 2012

After five years of writing, six months of editing, and more than a year of promotion, The Grim finally launched to raving reviews and tons of reader interest. It seemed as though years of hard work was finally paying off. Except--no one told me the hard part wasn't over. I still had to promote my work, and I must admit: maybe I'm drowning under the pressure...?﻿

Now, let's be clear: I love what I do. Becoming an indie author has been a dream of mine since I was little, and seeing The Grim in print on my bookshelf sparkling like a marquee in downtown Harlem is that dream realized. However, in addition to being a (hopefully successful) independent author, I am also a single mother with a day job. Let's just say trying to find a balance has not been easy.

The scheduling alone is a monster! I have interviews and blogs to write for my current blog tour, and Soapbox Spotlight submissions which have been flooding my inbox ever since I began the feature during Launch Week. In addition, I've also agreed to review a few authors' books, I've had two back-to-back appearances, plus I need to find time to sit down and write the two new novels I'm working on: The Devil & I, a romance novel, and The Lova Chronicles, a series YA-style that still needs to be fleshed out in certain places. And that's just my author schedule. We haven't even begun to discuss field trips, laundry, cooking dinner, cleaning, relationship issues, Bible study lectures with content I must both read and write, yoga, and the occasional bout with congestive heart failure (I was diagnosed in January 2010. I'll tell you more about that later).

And did I mention I have a day job?

How do you find the time to even manage your time? I've taken to using my Blackberry to schedule everything, even return phone calls, because I'm terrified if I ask my brain to do anything that isn't creative or second nature, it's liable to forget about it. The problem is I always feel like I'm running against the clock, and I don't ever really get a chance to just enjoy this--all the hype and chaos that comes with maintaining an audience tends to take precedence to the joy that is supposed to come from realizing a dream. And I don't even have the time to share that with the people closest to me.

I guess I'm going to have to take a deep breath and find a way to make my life work, to meld things together in such a way that I don't feel swamped, overwhelmed, or overworked. And while all this sounds so good to me right now, it is definitely going to be easier said than done. Consider the comment section below a suggestion box: I'm open to whatever you have. In case you can't see it, there's a big HELP sign plastered on my forehead...

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

I'm pleased to introduce you to Marni Mann on this week's edition of Soapbox Spotlight. Marni has written an incredible book called Memoirs Aren't Fairytales: a Story of Addictionabout a young woman's struggle with drugs. The book sounds absolutely incredible so without further ado, I'll let Marni take it from here.

Tell us about yourself, Marni.

A New Englander at heart, Marni Mann, now a Floridian, is inspired by the sandy beaches and hot pink sunsets of Sarasota. A writer of literary fiction, she taps a mainstream appeal and shakes worldwide taboos, taking her readers on a dark, harrowing, and gritty journey. When she’s not nose deep in her laptop, she’s scouring for chocolate, traveling, reading, or walking her four-legged children. Her debut novel, Memoirs Aren’t Fairytales, was published by Booktrope in December 2011. The sequel, Scars from a Memoir, will be released summer 2012.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing since I was able to hold a pen and could produce something that didn’t resemble a bunch of squiggles. It’s my form of expression. It’s when I drop my inhibitions, reveal the darkness that lives inside, and turn completely vulnerable.

What genre of books do you read, or do you stick with the genre you write in?

Literary fiction, the genre I write, is my favorite to read. Honestly, though, I’ll read anything. I recently finished the Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy and just started Hunger Games. Before Fifty, I read Joe Vampire by Steven Luna. My taste is really all over the place.

What inspired you to write your first book, and what was it?

I have addicts in my life and a particular situation occurred. It flattened me. I’d seen the different places addiction could take someone, emotionally and physically, and I held their hand through those times. But this situation was too much for even me. I had questions, there were no answers, and no clarity in sight. My pain turned into a novel: Memoirs Aren’t Fairytales.

Can you share a little of it with us?

Leaving behind a nightmarish college experience, nineteen-year-old Nicole and her best friend Eric escape their home of Bangor, Maine to start a new life in Boston. Fragile and scared, Nicole desperately seeks a new beginning to help erase her past. But there is something besides freedom waiting for her in the shadows—a drug that will make every day a nightmare.

Heroin.

With one taste, the love that once flowed through Nicole's veins turns into cravings. Tracks mark the passing of time, and heroin's grip gets tighter. It holds her hand through deaths and prostitution, but her addiction keeps her in the darkness. When her family tries to strike a match to help light her way, Nicole must choose between a life she can hardly remember, or a love for heroin she'll never forget.

Excerpt:

Coke gave me energy. Ecstasy made me dance and want to be touched. Shrooms made me hallucinate. But heroin. Shit. Heroin was kind. It didn’t trip me out like acid or bring me into a dark hole like PCP. It showed me the quietness of the waves.

Wow! This book sounds amazing! How did you come up with the title?

The line, "memoirs aren’t fairytales", appears in my novel, and as soon as I wrote it I knew it had to be the title. It fits the story perfectly; it’s confusing, intriguing, and catchy. The novel is very much written like a memoir, and I don’t believe memoirs have happy endings like fairytales.

What was the hardest part about writing this book?

My protagonist, Nicole Brown, has some deep scars that are both emotional and physical. For a young girl, she’s witnessed and experienced more than most do in a lifetime. It took me 2.5 years to write this book and during that time, I carried her scars. They kept me awake at night. They appeared in my dreams. They haunted me. It wasn’t easy.

I totally understand that feeling! It was that way with me with my main character in The Grim. Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

The underlying message is addiction isn’t a choice; it’s a disease. I know I can’t change the world’s perception and make everyone believe addiction is a disease. I know I can’t convince every teenager not to try drugs. But if I can change one opinion or stop a young adult from heading towards that downward spiral, my novel is a success.

What are your current writing projects now?

I just finished the sequel titled, Scars From A Memoir. I hope to have it released this summer. Following the sequel’s release is a young adult (YA) version of Memoirs Aren’t Fairytales.If your book became a movie, who do you see playing your main characters?

Mila Kunis or Natalie Portman would be perfect for Nicole’s role. They excel at dark storylines, they aren’t afraid to get dirty, and they clean up well.

They were both incredible in Black Swan. What do you do to unwind and relax?

I travel, read, take really long showers, go to the spa, sleep, and make frequent trips to the chiropractor because my writing posture is breaking my back.

Monday, May 14, 2012

May 12, 2012 was my first book signing! Man, what a great feeling! It was held at Otto's Booklover's Paradise in Williamsport, PA, right up the street from where I pledged Alpha Rho Omega at Lycoming College. Since the signing was set up to coordinate with Alumni Weekend at the school, many of my sorority sisters came out to support me. The day was filled with laughter and fun, and I greatly enjoyed the fellowship with my sisterhood.

The signing wasn't like anything I've seen on TV, nor was it like anything I read about while trying to prepare for it. I was not huddled in a corner looking lonely and lost, nor was I at a huge table with giant placards with my name on a marquee. The people who came by to visit with me were very inquisitive and sat down with me and talked about the book intimately. I really feel as though I got a chance to meet people. What an amazing and humbling experience!

There a couple things that I think I did right:

1. I coordinated my book signing event with another event with which I was affiliated. I scheduled my signing to coincide with Alumni Weekend at my alma mater, garnering support from groups and factions I participate in.

2. I made eye contact and attempted to strike up conversation with everyone who passed by. This generated interest from store visitors that weren't there for the author signing.

3. I kept a smile on my face and fun energy around me. When others heard me laughing and joking with other store visitors, they felt more open in talking with me. Also, I had my cousin/assistant with me for the signing; when no one was in the store, I had her to talk to so that I avoided the "lonely and lost" issue.

Now, there are definitely some things I did wrong:

1. I did not educate myself enough on how the business side of book signings work, so I may have come off belligerent and unappreciative to the book store owner. I made sure to send a follow-up email to the owner thanking her for her support and her willingness to participate in a signing with me after the event was over.

2. I did not have any promotional materials to hand out at the event. I should have at least offered my business cards or some bookmarks, but alas, was inadequately prepared.

3. My signing table was placed in a section of the store that had nothing to do with my book's genre. I was between the cookbooks and the New York Times' best sellers. While I may be aspiring toward the goals those authors have achieved, my placement by them deterred some readers who were in the store specifically for a book whose movie had just premiered. Or the older generation who came in just for the Pioneer Woman's new cookbook. (I did help one reader find said cookbook, to which she replied I had a "good energy", but did not garner a sale for The Grim.)

Some writing bloggers say a successful book signing is showing up and selling one book. Well, I sold 17; not bad--especially for my first time out. And I owe those successes to a well-coordinated event, a little humility, great friends, and "good energy". Special thanks to everyone who participated; the next one will be even better!

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

I am so pleased to offer you another Soapbox Spotlight! Today, I'm talking to Ryan T. Nelson, author of The Shadow Walkers series, of which Book One: The Shadows Birth has already been published for Amazon's Kindle. A second title is anticipated soon. Ryan is here to talk to us about writing, family, and his aspirations.

Love your author photo! Tell
us a little about yourself, Ryan.

I
am a 28-year old husband, and father first.
After that, I am a student, writer, mechanic, motorcyclist and comic book fan.
My family is very important to me, and my kids are some of the biggest joys in
my life. And occasionally the biggest pains in my butt, but it happens.

How,
if at all, has your upbringing influenced your writing?

My mother read The Hobbit by
J.R.R. Tolkien to my brother and I when I was very young. I think [I was] four or five,
but I can’t remember for sure. I do remember sitting on the living room floor
and listening to her speak of Gollum and
of Smaug the great Dragon, the Lake Men and the Elves and Dwarves, and I
remember being fascinated with the entire idea of having a thought or an idea
in your head and being able to translate it onto paper in such a ways as to
make it something others would want to read. I started reading myself from
there and never looked back.

What
first attracted you to fantasy?

I always enjoyed the
works of David Eddings, Terry Goodkind, Terry Brooks, Tolkien, Piers Anthony. I
enjoy other genres as well, but I think the joy I find with fantasy is that
there’s little requirement to strictly follow certain rules. In modern settings
you are somewhat restricted by the technology of the era and so on. With
fantasy, your imagination can be allowed to stretch as far as you can reach and
create worlds the likes of which none have ever seen before.

Tell
us about your latest work.

My most completed current
work is Book Two of The Shadow Walkers Let Her Cry. The second book in the
series puts Rhyven, Jade and Keyola against a series of difficult and dangerous
situations where they must rely on each other to survive. And as Obsidian
readies for War, magic spins out of control and a poison threatens to create a
magical backlash that may kill hundreds of thousands. I may very well be that
their growing friendship will be the only thing that can save them.

Can you share
a little of it with us?

Rhyven Donough wants one thing in life. Revenge. After his
home was destroyed, he vows to find and kill the man responsible. Thrust into a
prophecy he doesn't care about, he is expected by some to deliver the world from a
great evil.

Jade has been alone for most of her life, traveling from
city to town, working when and where she could and helping those that need it
along the way. Trained at an early age in the arts of the Assassin, she is a
formidable opponent.

Keyola is searching for the rarest of ingredients to put
together a counter spell for one of his own spells gone horribly astray. How
was he to know that adding rabbit fur to that particular transformation spell
would have such... interesting consequences?

So what does a boy seeking blood, a skilled Assassin and a
Mage with a unique cosmetic issue have in common?

They're about to be set on a path that will lead, either to
the world's salvation, or its utter destruction. A path thousands of years in
the making.

They just don't know it.

Wow! That sounds amazing! Can
you tell us about your main character?

I say Rhyven is the hero of the story, but he’s less a hero
by choice and more by default. He just so happens to have a personal vendetta
against the ‘villain’ of the story so by definition his desire to destroy
Obsidian makes him the hero. It will be up to the friends he makes later in the
series to prevent him from sliding too far into the pitfalls that could make
him a worse evil than Obsidian ever was.

What
projects can we expect from you in the future?

Well, at my last check I had roughly 31 novels planned out
where I actually had titles to go with them. But I have a 7-book sci-fi series,
an 8-book modern day detective series, an Urban Fantasy Trilogy and numerous
other stories. The most likely to be completed and published first would be a
Vampires & Werewolves kinda story written in first person from the
perspective of a 323-year old vampire that has the potential to possibly
destroy everything the Clans and Packs have worked for for centuries. This one
is titled The Fifth Clan.

I have such a love for vampires! I'll have to keep my eye out for that! What
do you believe contributes to making a writer successful?

I think that depends on what
you define a success. For example, my biggest goal was to get my work published.
That has been done, [so] by that definition, I am a successful writer.
Others might think that success is measured by being able to quit your day job
and make a living based simply off of the income from your writing. I guess
that’s my next goal as a writer. I think success can really only be determined
by the individuals views on what they wish to achieve as a writer.

Do
you have any upcoming appearances that you would like to share with us?

No appearances myself but the
first print version of the novel will be on display at this years MTV Movie Awards
Celebrity Gifting Suite. Photos will be up on my Facebook page as soon as
possible after the event.

What a thrilling opportunity! How
did you develop your plot and characters?

In pieces to be honest. The original idea came to me as
nothing more than a character that could walk through shadows like doorways.
This obviously has evolved into a very different view of the Shadow Walker in
their powers and abilities. As I write, I keep notebooks for all the different
possibilities and ideas that come to me. Some have made it into the stories
while others have not.

Do
you have any advice for other writers?

Other authors say to write: just set aside time and WRITE.
Others say to read: the more you read, the better your writing can be. If I
could give one piece of advice to another writer, I would tell them find someone
smarter than they are to edit their work. As the creator, it’s too easy to miss
or overlook grammar mistakes and typos because you’re too close to the work.

I totally agree, Ryan. As a matter of fact, I wrote a blog on it! How
do you come up with new novel ideas?

Through flashes of inspiration. I don’t think that I have
ever sat down and tried to come up with a new story idea. I hear a line from a
song, or I see something on the street or a random thought pops into my head
before I fall to sleep and I latch onto it and think “oh, that’s a good idea
for a story.” ‘Meet Me’ was inspired by the opening line of ‘Stellar’ by
Incubus. ‘Shining Stars’ was inspired by ‘Through the Glass’ by Stone Sour. My
‘Shards’ series was originally inspired looking at a Pyramid Collection
catalogue and reading about a lead crystal figurine. So I guess I don’t come up
with new ideas; new ideas find me.

Well, thanks so much for being here today with us, Ryan, and sharing your projects with us!

Saturday, May 5, 2012

This is our final installment of the Launch Week edition of Soapbox Spotlight. Thank you so much for being with us this week! Our special guest today is Mathew Harmon, an aspiring indie author, to talk about his upcoming novel Unfortunate Destiny.

Nice to meet you Matt! Tell us about yourself.

Well, I’m 34 years old, and currently serve in the United States Navy
as a yeomen (administrative assistant).
I’ve lived all over the west coast, but I spend the most time in a
little town in Oregon called Albany; maybe about 50,000 people or so in
it. It’s a nice little place…in the
summer. Most of the time it’s grey and
rainy though. To me, it’s definitely a
place to visit and not live, unless you like the rain. I really didn’t start writing until high
school, and only a little bit at that. I
took creative writing assignments and essay’s more seriously and put a lot of
effort into them, but it took a unique high school class senior year for me to
realize I actually liked writing. It was
called Senior Project and was an only slightly supervised class that less us be
on our own. The assignment was
simple: pick a project and see it to
completion at the end of the semester.
So I choose to write a novel, and though I only finished 80 to 90 pages,
it was the start of the novel I eventually finished titled Unfortunate Destiny.

Do you recall how your interest in writing
originated?

Personally, my interest in writing
began with an interest in reading. I’ll
never forget the first time I realized reading was fun. One day in the summer, at the age of
thirteen, I complained to my dad about being bored. He had a look in his eye that said I might
have gotten some chores to occupy my time, but instead he handed me his copy of
The Hobbit and told me I couldn’t
watch TV or play Nintendo until I finished it.
Sure enough, I fell in love with reading after that, and I eventually
began to tell myself that I should write my own material, and found I really
loved it when I took my own advice.

What
inspires you to write and why?

Inspiration comes from everyday life
for me. You might catch a bit of
overheard conversation here or there, or look out your window and see a bird
landing on a tree branch. It might sound
cheesy, but I think the littlest, most inane things that happen every day can
be inspirational.

What
first attracted you to the [sci-fi/fantasy] genre?

Fantasy novels are primarily what I
tend to read leisurely. It’s about the
only thing I like to write, although I have ideas for venturing outside the
world of swords and sorcery, and do occasionally dabble in other types of
stories.

Who
or what influenced your writing once you began?

J. R. R. Tolkien‘s works are probably
my most influential fantasy pieces. If
only one person loves my books as much as I love Tolkien’s, then all my hard
work and effort were worth it. If that
one person keeps coming back to my works as I do to The Hobbit and The Lord of
the Rings trilogy, then I can truly call myself a successful author.

What
do you consider the most challenging about writing a novel, or about writing in
general?

I write short stories, and it mostly
seems an easier process than writing a novel.
I think writing novels is a fun but difficult challenge in entwining
different characters and ideas into a smooth and well written work of fiction.

Can you tell us about your main
character?

There are only so many stories to be
told in the world, am I right? That
being said, Jovost is a seventeen year old man-child, somewhere stuck in the
middle of both of those phases of life, who lived in a sheltered world all his
life. The inevitable danger that befalls
all main characters who once lived peaceful lives forces him into an unknown
world alone, at first, and gaining friends along the way to help him. Though he doesn’t know it until later, they
all help him in ways he doesn’t recognize at first.

How
important do you think villains are in a story?

Often times the villain is like a
twisted sort of hero, in the end. If not
for the villain, Jovost would not have left his sheltered life in the Monastery
he grew up in. He would not, in the
later novels, find out about his heritage and how his life will turn out to be,
if he was not forced to find these things out.
Thank the villain, my friend, for if not for them, who would shape our
heroes into what they become as opposed to their humble and meek beginnings?

What
do you love about independent publishing?

It seems to be that independent
publishing is just that--independent. It
might be a simple statement, but here’s what I mean. Sometimes, the major publishing companies can
stem the ideas of the big authors and not allow certain novels into their
publishing line, because it ‘doesn’t fit the mold’. In that way, publishing a novel independently
can more readily assure that your novel will remain more untouched and truer to
the original vision you had for it.

What
do you do to unwind and relax?

Some people like to criticize video
games, but it really is a new platform for telling stories, and more
interactive ones at that, though they can’t take anything away from the
imagination inducing experience that reading a novel can give you. That and indulging in the moving story, in
the form of movies and TV are what I’ve been doing to unwind from my long days
aboard the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

What
are some of your favorites (foods, color, musicians)?

My favorite color is green, don’t know
what that says about me, but there you go.
Who doesn’t love pizza? If I was
on the proverbial desert island and could only eat one thing for the rest of my
life, provided I could put different toppings on it, I think pizza would be the
go-to food. As far as music is
concerned, I’m a diverse kinda guy. You
have different styles for different moods; some people might not like heavy
metal, but it’s nice to put on when you’re angry and don’t want to take it out
on anyone.

Can
you share a little of Unfortunate Destiny
with us (blurb)?

Please bear with me, with this small
excerpt of Unfortunate Destiny. Though I have done a few rounds of editing
and re-writing on the entire novel, you will still find some spelling and
grammar issues; my apologies.

…Captain
Jahymes should be just up ahead, guarding the newborn prince’s chambers, or
perhaps over his majesties chamber itself.
A kindly man with the best stories, [Marina] had often been saved by a
falsehood or two, if it meant saving the hide of his favorite chamber
maid. She felt something like the
daughter he never had, and like he was a second father she could confide in;
often enough, he had helped her with some problem or another, if she had not
felt up to asking her real father.

A
strange thing, as [Marina] drew closer to the chamber doors of the King and the
Prince. Neither [door] was guarded, and a sliver of open air stood between the
hallway and the King’s chamber; just what exactly would keep the diligent, old
Jahymes from not posting duty as he always had? It was puzzling, and just who
had been careless enough to leave the door open? Yet, at the same time, she
stared at the gap with a strong temptation starting to bubble within her; a
sickening feeling came up in her stomach, one in which comprised equal parts of
excitement and fear. In the end, the cunning thing called temptation had wrapped
its arm around her, pulled her from the street of normality into the black
alley of blasphemous thoughts; a place that Santos could not forgive one
treading for too long, or for willingly going back more than a few times. He
knew those unfit for His kingdom, on the Beyonder Plain, and he would cast away
those he knew to be unworthy.

Despite
admonishing herself, Marina soon came to be listening at the strange
conversation she started to here; she didn’t at all like the sound of the
voices coming forth, now that she was paying attention to the tones. These coldly strange voices were far too low
and…and there was a strange quality to them, despite the chill every portion of
word brought on. A raspy, scratching quality to them, they didn’t seem at all
to be Welsian in the least, though she could understand them, as they spoke the
King’s Word.

“Well
then, doesss the child prove strong; will he prove a proper connection?” one
voice asked, not as deep; to say this voice was not threatening wouldn’t have
been true, and yet sounded peace-loving, compared to the thin, deathly quality
about the next voice.

“The
young one will bleed mossssst ssuficcently Lord Dolsssta, yes; the next eve
will be a gloriousss day for ussss; finally will I be finisssshed with hiding
thingsss longer.” Marina did not like this voice in the least. Both would
likely strike her dead, should they have discovered the young maid standing
there; she’d thrown her ear onto a conversation where it wasn’t meant to be
cast. The second voice sounded of pure evil though; the black of night up
against the relatively tame darkness of a shadow.

The
first voice, the Shadow she named it, spoke again to the other, which she
thought to name the Darkness.

“The
King iss firmly under your control then, Delsssta du’ prajadi? I do not
want room for error! Too long hasss our Lord Assssai lain without our reach; no
longer! The Blood Moon will cassst uss back to our old glory again!”

She
wasn’t sure, but she thought she heard the Darkness gurgling in response. The
darkness seemed to be here, in the castle, though the Shadow seemed elsewhere.
Was this magical talking, like she had heard the royal seers could do? She had
heard prajadi before, and she thought
she heard the men saying it talk of such things like an evil variation of a
Brother of Santos. She had seen only the healing magics they could perform, had
never seen such things like magic or the white, blinding energy of Santos
himself, that He bestowed on those who practiced His faith enough to have a
tiny measure of Him flow through their bodies, and into their hands for
healing, amongst other things. She was a common maid, so what did she know of
such things; what would she have ever encountered of such things, until now, it
seemed?

The Darkness finally stopped gurgling, could this
have been some sort of laughter on its—surely these things must have been the
much spoken of, and little seen Asailian folk; half snake, half Man? Again, she
thought she would never see one in her life time, though now she listened to
two speak about her, and her kind as if refuse to be burned sometime, lest it
pile up too high and make erroneous amounts of stink. Before she heard anything
else, she padded off as quickly as she could, towards Mistress Kaitlin’s
chambers, mindful to make as little noise as possible.

“Jovolin
dances to my tune like a well made marionette my Lord, all is well. Tomorrow
eve, the young Gralias prince will have his bloodshed, under the Blood Moon,
that the ancient blood mixes with our own. I will have sufficient power, then,
to bear the strain of the spells necessary to bring Asai back over us. He will
rule dominantly amongst the Gods, as he will be the sole celestial force; none
can ever free the other Gods again, Asai will rule all; we will ride the windsss
again, with none of the othersss to bother us again. We will have Chemlaka unto
ourselves again, assss we have alwaysss meant to! I bid you an excellent
evenin…,” Delsta paused then, thinking he heard slippers upon the polished
stone used in the hallway, yet he couldn’t have been sure; continued on, as he
could not anger his king, Dolsta va’ Vaja,
“…ahh sorry Lord, I was momentarily distracted. I shall bid you well my Lord;
until we speak tomorrow evening, as something closer to Gods then mere mortals,
as we now remain. Until that prominent evening!”…

Wow,
that sounds exciting! I can’t wait to
check that out! Well, thanks for joining
us today, Mathew, and we hope you’re enjoying the party!

Friday, May 4, 2012

Thank you so much for being with us on another installment of the Launch Week edition of Soapbox Spotlight. Our next special guest visitor, Alexia Purdy, is an incredible paranormal suspense YA author (that's Young Adult for you lamens). She is now based out of Las Vegas and is here to talk to us about her latest release, Reign of Blood.

Do you want to tell us about yourself?

Well, I’m an author/poet, and I live in Las Vegas NV. My debut novel, Ever Shade (A Dark Faerie Tale), just released Feb 29th. I’m pretty excited about it. It’s been a long road. Reign of Blood, an entirely different series based on a post-apocalyptic Las Vegas and a vampire hunter named April, just released on April 29th. I have been writing since I can remember, lots of short stories and poems scattered about my house. Writing is my escape and my love. I have four kids that keep me quite busy. I love them to death, and they keep me grounded. I am also a registered nurse and have been doing that for 11 years now. I love the freedom writing gives me, and I’m enjoying the journey.

Wow! You've got your hands full! What inspires you to write and why?

Words are amazing; put them one way, and you can evoke emotion, leave someone breathless. Another way, you can cause terror and nightmarish landscapes. Yet another, love and inspiration. I am a wordsmith: these are my crafts and designs for the world to enjoy. This alone makes me want to write more and more. I have a huge imagination and to put it down on paper is the only high for me.

What first attracted you to this genre?

I love the YA genre because it’s fun, fresh, and doesn’t have to be super serious. I love it! [There are] so many amazing writers out there in this genre. It’s definitely not one to miss for any age.

What inspired you to write your first book, and what was it?

Ever Shade was my first full length novel. I had always wanted to be a writer, and the idea for this book came to me from a dream I had that I thought would make an awesome story. I made myself write it down and kept going, determined to write a novel. I hope I did it justice; my dream world is quite vast.

What was the hardest part about writing this book?

Sitting down and typing it! I am not a patient person; I hate typing and it gets tedious. Music helps relax me while I write--otherwise, I’d never get it done.

How much of the book is based on real events?

Reign of Blood is based on real Las Vegas. It is a post-apocalyptic story so the rest is made up. I do try to stay true to the landmarks and the infamous Strip. It is a bit harder than what I did with Ever Shade, which was completely fictional.

What are your current writing projects now?

I just wrapped up the release of Reign of Blood on April 29th. Then I will get going on Book 3 of my Dark Faerie Tale series called Ever Winter, due out sometime in 2013. I am also working on a super project with some of my fellow authors at my publishing group Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly. It will be phenomenal.

Sounds incredible! I'm going to have to keep my eye out for that. What do you think are some of the best tools available today for writers, especially those just starting out?

Of course the internet, you can do almost everything on there. Sell your book, promote, make connections, advertise…you name it. I take full advantage of it. You can never be too connected. I meet new people every day. It is important to talk with them, share your life. This is what pulls in those potential readers; yep, they want to know you too, not just your writing.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Read a lot, write a lot and support each other. We can’t do this alone; we are not islands.

What do you do to unwind and relax?

I read, listen to music, watch YouTube and play with my kids OUTSIDE! I love nature, not a huge outdoorsy type but I do like to immerse myself in it’s amazing beauty; it’s a serenity I crave.

I love Italian and yellow is my favorite color, too! Wow, it's been wonderful getting to know you, Alexia! Congratulations on all your success, and thanks for stopping by the party.

Thanks for having me, Raynetta!

Alexia is giving away a free e-book copy of her new release, Reign of Blood! Winner will be chosen at 9am EST on May 5 from the giveaway entries received on May 1-May 4. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to correspondence and win their prize. Good luck!

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Welcome back to another Launch Week installment of Soapbox Spotlight! I'm so proud to introduce you to this next author; she's my best friend of thirteen years, J. Mahogany! Her first work is Barely Breathing, a prose compilation we authored together. She's here to talk to us about poetry, prose compilations, and what she loves about writing.

So, tell us a little about yourself.

I am from
Inglewood, CA, but grew up all across America.
I am what some people call an "Army Brat". Both my parents were in the Army. Growing up in so many places allowed me to be
introduced to many cultures and people.
It is because of that upbringing that I have such a diverse group of
friends, most of whom I consider extended family. I have always loved losing myself inside of a
new book. I have a colorful history of
experiences that inspire me to write most of my work. I am a child at heart and will never change
that part of me for anything in the world.
It keeps me from being hardened by some of the tragic experiences I have
had to deal with in my life. It also
keeps those around me laughing and remembering to appreciate even the little
things in life.

You are also a member of our honored
military. Let me, on behalf of our
readership, give you the deepest thanks for your service. We are so blessed as a country that you take
those risks out there.

How long have you been writing?

Since I
can remember. Writing has been my method of "breathing".
It started as just journaling when I was 8 or 9 and continued into poetry and
prose as I got older.

Your genre is prose; have you ever
considered writing anything else?

I have written
a few children's stories that I read to my friends’ and neighbor’s
children. They are mainly about teaching children life lessons in a
creative and fun way.

How would you describe the pieces you
write?

[They are]
my life experiences. I am very imaginative, but most pieces I write stem
from a memory or something I have heard from someone else that inspired me to
write about it.

Do you feel you've evolved as a
writer? What caused the change?

I am the
worst critic of my work! But, yes, I can definitely see the changes of my
writer's voice through the years. [It’s much more] emotional and
mature. [A lot] of my growth in writing stems from life experiences that
were very painful. If I could describe it, it would be as if I died
emotionally and resurrected as a new being. When I am at my lowest, that
is when I find the words that surface like a butterfly from a cocoon.
Still, when I read others’ work, such as yours, it makes me want to burn my
notebooks and be shameful to want to call myself a writer!

That’s ridiculous; you’re brilliant! Can you tell us more about what inspires you
to write?

Life.
Memories. Pain.

What do you love about independent
authorship?

Creative
control gives you the freedom to write from your heart. I love being challenged
and given a topic to write about, but being an independent author puts no
restrictions on what I want to say or how I should say it.

Do you have any new projects planned?

Always!
I have so many projects....I just tend to procrastinate. I have three
novels I would like to one day finish as well as two compilations of prose that
I have yet to edit, one of them with you that we’re hoping to get out next
year.

Yes! Above Broken Dreams is the name of the project,
and I think it’s going to be incredible. Oh, and let's not forget about the joint venture novel, Riding Past Dawn.
I’m so looking forward to finishing those with you.

It’s going
to be really fun working together again!

What do you see ahead for yourself in your
writing career?

A solo
project of my own prose is the long term goal. But I feel that I have a
bit more growing to do as a writer before I make that leap.

What do you do for fun?

I love
listening to music; it is so soothing. I love to travel the world (which
as we speak I am in the Middle East), and I absolutely love playing with my
dogs, a.k.a. my babies.

Can you tell our audience about some of
your favorite things?

My
favorite country is Australia. The people are so friendly, and the
country itself is so beautiful. My favorite city is Point Reyes,
Calif. It is in northern California on the coast and is the perfect
setting for a relaxing vacation or to find peace of mind. I love Italian
food - well, I love all food, but that is my favorite. I love too many
artists to pick any favorites, but what stays in constant play on my iPod is
Jill Scott, Eric Benet, Maxwell, Ledisi, Fred Hammond, Alicia Keys, Jasmine
Sullivan, Rihanna and Melanie Fiona. My absolute favorite author is Paulo
Coehlo. His books really make you reflect on life and yourself. And
many have a religious theme to them. When I read his books I feel my
spirit growing.

Wow, those are some amazing favorites! Do you have any poetry you'd like to share with us today?

Sure! This is titled "Lighthouse".

Nestled deep behind my strong demeanor

You will find a heart that bleeds deeply for you.

A trail of tears will lead yo to a woman

Who has become weakened by your existence.

I am intimately connected to you.

I dream of you; I crave you.

Locked away behind my poised expression

I dance for you.

I celebrate your existence in my world;

I cherish you.

You are - everything to me.

That is what my heart would say if it could speak.

Even when the shadows engulf your light

I see you. I seek you.

Your love is a beacon to my ship

Where I long to moor at your pier and embrace you.

I whisper your name to the ocean

In hopes of
navigating my sail back to you.

You are...home.

My safe haven.

You are my buried treasure that I seek diligently to find.

Have I lost you forever?

Has my bearing lost its course?

Never. A sailor never loses sight or faith amongst the arduous seas

In hopes of returning to their beloved.

I pray you will always be my beacon home.

Amazing, as usual! Well, Besti, it has been an absolute honor to
have you stop by the party and talk with us today. Keep us posted about all your upcoming projects.

I
certainly will, and thanks for having me.
It’s been great catching up with you, and congrats on The Grim! What a read!

Thank you for joining me! Have you checked out the rest of the site? Feel free to purchase or learn more about any of my recent published books below :-) Happy visiting, and I hope you join us again soon!

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Soapbox Spotlight

Soapbox Spotlight began with my special indie author guests that stopped in during Launch Week. You can always view our previous visitors here.

Are you a debut author? Or just trying to get some exposure? If you want to inquire about appearing on Soapbox Spotlight, write to me at info@raynettastocks.com. We've love to help you get your work out there!

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